Insider's Malaysia & Singapore - Absolute Asia Tours

Upon arrival at Singapore airport you will be met by your driver, who will transfer you to your hotel. The remainder of your day will be at leisure.

Take in a number of Singapore’s highlights travelling like a local, using Singapore’s fast and efficient MRT (mass rapid transport). Starting with a nod to its Colonial heritage, visit Raffles Landing Site where Sir Stamford Raffles, founder of modern Singapore was believed to have first set foot on the island. Continue on to Telok Ayer Street, where original shop houses sit beside lovingly restored Buddhist, Taoist and Hindu temples; and Kampong Glam, home to a predominantly Muslim population and the impressive Sultan Mosque. After lunch in one of the city’s hawker centres, spend the afternoon at Gardens By The Bay, a sprawling futuristic park, and arguably Singapore’s star attraction.

Take a treetop walk through the various forested and wetland areas of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve today, an interesting contrast from the skyscrapers and modernity of the city itself, with a chance to enjoy spectacular views and spot over 100 species of birds. After a free afternoon, join your guide for an evening exploring Tiong Bahru market, one of the most popular hawker centres in the city. It doubles up as a traditional market, with over 200 stalls downstairs selling everything from tropical fruit & vegetables to dried goods; with fishmongers sitting alongside butchers. Upstairs is packed with a slightly over-whelming variety of food stalls offering everything from famous Singaporean Chicken Rice to fresh BBQ pork buns; Chinese, Malay & Thai specialties and the more traditional duck porridge and pig organ soup (if you’re feeling more adventurous). When you’ve eaten your fill, return to your hotel.

Take a flight from Singapore Airport to Ipoh on the Malay Peninsular, where you'll transfer to the Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat. Time to relax!

Your day is at leisure to enjoy the resort’s spa facilities and hot springs.

Depart from Ipoh for Penang this morning, around a 2-hour drive. Upon reaching the coast you'll leave the Malay Peninsula and cross the impressive 8-mile long Penang Bridge. Once you’ve settled into your hotel, the rest of your day will be at leisure to start exploring Penang Island.

Tour Georgetown’s key sights, and graze through the town’s famous foodie hotspots. Make a beeline for the ornate Sri Mahamariamman Temple, pausing for a few Indian-style snacks along the way. Visit the Khoo Kongsi clan house, the Pinang Peranakan Mansion museum and historic Fort Cornwallis, then lunch on spicy Penang Laksa rice-noodle soup and coconut-sweet chendol. See Wat Chaiya Mangkalaram’s grand reclining Buddha; visit the Dhammikarama Burmese Buddhist temples; and head to Bangkok Lane to try the famous Mee Rebus and Mee Goreng noodles that reflect the area’s Thai and Burmese influences. Your last stop of the day will be the famous Kek Lok Si Buddhist temple: an expansive complex of prayer halls, pagodas and bell towers surrounding a seven storey pagoda and bronze statue of the Goddess of Mercy. The rest of the afternoon will be at leisure to soak up the city’s sights and sounds.

Get up bright and early to meet your cycling guide and transfer by shared vehicle to Balik Pulau in the southwest of Penang. In contrast to the busy streets of Georgetown, Balik Pulau is a rural idyll of rice fields and fruit plantations where local life continues much as it has done for generations. The area produces nutmeg, cloves and a variety of fruit, but is particularly well known for its durians, which locals swear are the best in the country. The best way to explore is by bike, and having swapped four wheels for two in Balik Pulau town, follow your guide along quiet roads and pathways into the countryside, glimpsing the day to day lives of the local people. After a couple of hours leisurely cycling, your guide will drive you and your fellow cyclists back to Georgetown where the rest of your day will be at leisure.

Morning transfer to the Marina Island Pangkor jetty (a journey of approx. 3 hours) in time for your early afternoon shared boat transfer to the private island of Pangkor Laut and the luxurious Pangkor Laut Resort. Check into the hotel and the rest of your day is free to relax and enjoy your surroundings.

At leisure in Pangkor Laut 

Relax until your early afternoon departure for the mainland by scheduled boat and then drive on to Kuala Lumpur. Checking in to your hotel, the remainder of your day is at leisure.

Journey through Kuala Lumpur’s contrasting neighbourhoods, from historic streets to modern high-rises. Stop at one of the city’s oldest and largest wet markets in Chow Kit district, soaking up the sights and sounds of day-to-day local life. Continue to foodie hot-spot Kampung Baru, where 19th century timber houses are dwarfed by surrounding high-rise buildings in a protected heritage area, and try some of the best Nasi Lemak in the city. Stroll through Bangsar, a cosmopolitan area, dotted with cafes, restaurants and bars, as your guide explains about the area’s exciting urban regeneration. Having seen first-hand how traditional neighbourhoods co-exist alongside the modern, your final stop is at the Traders Hotel 33rd floor SkyBar, which boasts amazing views of the Petronas Twin Towers, to enjoy a leisurely drink with spectacular panoramic views. 

Having watched the sun setting over the city, transfer to Tamarind Springs for dinner. One of the finest (and most romantic) restaurants in KL, this award-winning eatery enjoys a unique tropical setting on the outskirts of town. Relax in the tranquil surroundings and savour the contemporary Indochinese cuisine. After dinner, transfer back to your hotel.

Your day is at leisure until your transfer to Kuala Lumpur Airport for your onward flight.